Genetic Variability and Divergence Analysis in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus(L.) Moench]

An investigation was undertaken to assess genetic diversity of 50 genotypes based on 11 traits using Mahalanobis D2 statistics. Significant variation was noticed for all the traits. High heritability estimates were observed for all the traits except thickness of the fruit. In general phenotypic coefficients of variability were greater than their corresponding genotypic coefficients of variability denoting environmental factors influencing their expressions to some degree or other. High estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance and moderate to high GCV were observed for plant height up to 1st fruiting node (cm), no. of first fruiting nodes / plant, no. of branches/ plant and number of fruits per plant. Mahanalobis D2 statistics cluster analysis distributed the 50 genotypes into eight broad clusters. The inter-cluster distance was maximum between cluster II and VII (6.956) followed by cluster I and VII (6.69), cluster IV and cluster VII (6.64) and cluster V and cluster VII (6.588), whereas minimum inter cluster distance was between I and IV (2.239). The characters viz. plant height (cm), plant height up to first fruiting node, no. of branches/ plant and weight per fruit (g) contributed maximum towards genetic divergence and, therefore, selection of divergent parents based on these characters is recommended for getting good hybrids or segregates in okra. The cluster VII genotypes were Parbhani Kranti, ParbhaniTripti and Bio Aparajita were diverse from other clusters and also having highest mean values for plant height (cm), plant height up to first fruiting node and weight per fruit (g). The cluster II genotypes viz.; BO-22 , BH-9, IC-8899, IC-12930, IC-10256 and White Snow had highest mean values for no. of branches/ plant.